Theft preventing device, particularly for bottles

ABSTRACT

A theft preventing device for an article having a substantially cylindrical end with a substantially ring-shaped bulge, e.g. a bottle or container. The device comprises a releasable body having a clamping means gripping the cylindrical end when in the closed position, and a locking means for preventing the clamping means from being opened unless a special tool is used. The body comprises of a substantially tubular element with a larger diameter than the ring-shaped bulge, and comprises a member that is movable relative to the tubular element between a closed position in which it defines a cross-section smaller than that of the ring-shaped bulge, and a released position in which it defines a cross-section greater than that of the ring-shaped bulge.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention concerns a theft preventing device, for an articlehaving an essentially cylindrical end with an essentially annularswelling, for example, a bottle or a flask. Such a device is intended toprevent theft from shelves, or to prevent access by unauthorizedindividuals to dangerous, expensive, or toxic products.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART

In the state of the art, different solutions to protect such articlesare known. A first solution, disclosed in French Patent No. 8,615,285consists of a collar which is integrally connected to a locking plate.This collar forms a loop which can be tightened so that it firmly holdsthe neck of the bottle. The locking in the narrowed position is ensuredby a magnetic lock.

A variant of this solution is described in French Patent No. 9,305,159.The device disclosed in this document concerns a clamp that can beplaced around the neck of the bottle and locked in the closed position.

These devices of the prior art also include a component which is capableof interacting with a terminal located at the exit of the buying area.When an article having a theft preventing device is detected by such aterminal, it triggers an alarm signal. Theoretically, only the cashieris able to remove the theft preventing device from the article. Inpractice, the effectiveness of the devices of the prior art is limited.Indeed, their design results in parts which can be used as a lever armor they provide a hold which makes it possible, without too muchdifficulty, to obtain a separation from the bottle. Moreover, theprotection means are directly visible and, therefore, it is very easyfor a dishonest person to understand how the locking is achieved and todefeat it.

In the state of the art, means for locking bottles, which consist ofsafety stoppers, have also been proposed.

UK Patent No. 677,311 discloses such a stopper, comprising hooks whichare locked by a movable ring. This ring is mechanically locked, and itrequires the use of a key to authorize the release of the stopper. Thissolution does not present a great degree of security because themechanical locking means provides no resistance against a dishonestperson, even if that person has little dexterity, unless a true lock isused, whose cost makes it poorly suited for use in large scaleproduction.

Another patent published in France under FR 2,696,999 describes alocking device comprising locking elements which can be released by theaxial displacement of a magnetic core which is controlled by the actionof an identification code detector. Such a device is adapted tosmall-scale production, but not for the systematic security for massmarket products. In this case, the margins and unit prices are low whichdoes not make it possible to devote large budgets to security equipment.

The purpose of the invention is to propose a locking device which isresistant to theft, whose manufacturing cost is low, and whosedeactivation is very simple and rapid for an authorized operator.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The purpose of the present invention is to overcome the aforementioneddrawbacks by proposing a device which guarantees better resistance tounauthorized unlocking. Another purpose of the invention is to make thecontents of a bottle inaccessible when the device is in place, inparticular, by preventing the withdrawal of the stopper.

For this purpose, the device according to the invention comprises aremovable body comprising a means which is capable of firmly holding, inthe closed position, the cylindrical end and a locking means to preventthe opening of said holding means without the use of a specific tool,characterized in that the body comprises an essentially tubular elementhaving a diameter which is larger than the diameter of the annularswelling which has a device which can be moved with respect to thetubular element between a closed position in which it delimits a sectionwhich is less than the section of the annular swelling and an unlockedposition in which it delimits a section which is larger than the sectionof the annular swelling.

According to a first embodiment, the theft preventing device comprisesan interior element having at least one protuberance which is directedtoward the central axis, and an external tubular element, the twoelements being relatively movable along a central axis between aposition in which they work in cooperation to push back the protuberancein the direction of the central axis, and an unlocked position in whichthe exterior element releases the interior element to allow theprotuberance to separate radially.

According to a general embodiment, the interior body and the exteriorbody work cooperatively by means of surfaces which are at leastpartially conical and which ensure the firm holding of the part of theinterior body located below the swelling of the neck when they areaxially displaced in the locked position, and which also allow thebroadening of this part when they are displaced in opposite directions,where a locking device prevents the axial displacement when it is notdeactivated.

Advantageously, the device comprises an interior element having at leastone protuberance directed toward the central axis and an externaltubular element, the two elements being movable with respect to eachother along a central axis between a position in which they workcooperatively to push back the protuberance in the direction of thecentral axis, and an unlocked position in which the exterior elementreleases the interior element to allow the protuberance to separateradially.

According to a particular embodiment, the interior element comprises aradially deformable tubular element, having at its bottom end at leastone protuberance directed toward the central axis.

According to another embodiment, the interior element has an essentiallytubular, radially deformable, part which is extended by longitudinalhooks having at their bottom end a protuberance directed toward thecentral axis.

Advantageously, the interior element and the exterior element can belocked when they are inserted one into the other, by means of a radiallymovable metal blade, which can be released due to the action of amagnet.

According to a variant, the interior element and the exterior elementcan be locked when they are inserted into each other by a locking springcatch.

According to a second embodiment, the device according to the inventioncomprises an internal tubular element and an external tubular element,the elements being relatively movable, and a resistant strip, one end ofwhich is integrally connected to the exterior element and the other endintegrally connected to the interior element; the strip forms a loophaving a section which is larger than the annular swelling at rest, andwhich can be reduced by a relative rotation of the exterior element andthe interior element.

According to a particular embodiment, the exterior element and theinterior element are also axially movable between a position whichallows a relative rotation and a position which prevents the relativerotation.

For example, the exterior element and the interior element presentcomplementary serrations which can prevent rotation when the elementsare in the closed position.

The invention will be better understood after the reading of thefollowing description, made with reference to the drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 represents a cross-sectional view of a first embodiment exampleafter it has been placed on the bottle to be protected;

FIG. 2 represents a cross-sectional view of a first embodiment examplebefore it was placed on the bottle to be protected;

FIGS. 3 and 4 represent an embodiment in the locked position andunlocked position, respectively;

FIG. 5 represents a third embodiment;

FIG. 6 represents a cross section of another embodiment of theinvention;

FIG. 7 represents a perspective view of the clamp of said embodiment inenlarged scale.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The theft preventing device according to FIG. 1, comprises an externaltubular body (1) made of a rigid plastic material or metal. The tubularform is closed at one of its front ends (2) and it has on the oppositefront end (3) a circular hole (4). It contains a detection label (10),for example, a radio-frequency or electromagnetic label. This label (10)can be placed in the front or lateral part of the exterior body. It canbe included in the material or it can be wedged in a recess which isclosed by a sealed internal or external stopper. In the case of aninternal stopper, the label becomes inaccessible from the exterior ofthe device. In the case of an external stopper, the latter can be usedas a support for advertisements.

The section of this hole (4) is slightly greater than the section of theannular swelling (5) of the article to be protected, a bottle, in theexample described. The edges of the hole (4) present a bevel (6) whichconverges towards the closed front face (2). This bevel (6) facilitatesthe placement of the device on the neck of the bottle by guiding thepositioning of the front face during the passage of the face (3) overthe swelling (5). It also makes it possible to provide a hole (4) havinga section which is slightly less than the section of the swelling (5)when the material constituting the tubular body allows a slight elasticdeformation.

A second tubular element (7) is accommodated inside the exterior body(1). It has an internal cavity (9) whose depth essentially correspondsto the distance separating the bottom edge of the swelling (5) from thetop edge (8) of the neck. At its bottom end, the internal cavity (7) hasa choke or narrowing (11), so that, in the locked position, the bottomfront end has an opening which is at most equal to the section of theneck below the swelling (5). The edge of this opening also has a bevel(22) forming an angle of approximately 45°, whose edges converge towardthe top part of the device.

The top part of the element (2) has annular grooves (13) whose top edgesconverge toward the bottom, and whose bottom edges are essentially inradial planes. These grooves work cooperatively with a metal part (14),accommodated in a cavity (15) of the external tubular element (1) andpushed back at rest toward the center of the device due to the action ofa leaf spring (16). This metal part has complementary grooves so thatthe two series of grooves allow the insertion of the internal tubularelement (2) into the external tubular element (1), without allowing therelative displacement in the opposite direction except when the metalpart (14) is retracted, for example, due to the action of the magneticforce of a magnet placed against the external wall of the tubularelement (1).

A spring (17), placed between the front face (18) of the interiorelement and the front face of the exterior element (1) applies pressureso as to separate the two elements along the principal axis (19).

The internal surface of the lower front face of the exterior element (1)has an annular boundary (20) forming a bevel (21) converging toward thetop, and capable of working cooperatively with the lower edge having abevel (22) which is essentially complementary. When tension is appliedto the external tubular element (1), the two bevels (21) and (22)engage. The tension has a tendency to radially separate the bottom edgefrom the interior element, allowing the passage at the level of theswelling (5). The interior element (1) has, at its top part (23), areduced section so as to prevent the radial broadening of the bottomedge of the interior element. The interior element (1) has, at itsbottom part (24), an increased section so as to allow the radialbroadening of the bottom edge of the interior element.

When the interior element is inserted in the exterior element (1), it isimpossible to withdraw the device, because the section of the bottomedge prevents the passage at the level of the swelling (5). The twoelements are maintained in this position by the cooperation between thelocking part (14) and the grooves (13). In this position, the internalpart (7) and the exterior element (1) have a degree of freedom, but theyare locked against translational movement. The exterior element "spinsloosely" with respect to the interior element, which prevents a personwho attempts to force the device from applying a torque which candestroy the device.

In contrast, when the locking part (14) is drawn towards the exterior bymeans of a magnet, the two elements, the interior element and theexterior element, can move along the axis (19). The spring (17) thenrelaxes to separate the two elements, the interior element and theexterior element, as shown in FIG. 2.

The two bevels (21) and (22) then come into contact, and when tension isapplied to the exterior element (1), the cooperation of the bevelsresults in the separation of the bottom edge from the interior element,until movement above the swelling (5) becomes possible.

The use is as follows. At rest, the interior element and the exteriorelement are separated as shown in FIG. 2. The top part of the internalpart maintains the locking piece in the separated position.

When the device is placed over the neck of a bottle, the top front partof the interior element comes into contact with the edge of the bottleand it stops the movement of the interior element. One continues toapply pressure against the interior element, which causes thecompression of the spring (17). The locking part (14) engages with thegrooves (13). When the pressure is released, the locking part (14)blocks the relative translational displacement of the interior elementand the exterior element. The unblocking occurs when a magnet is broughtclose to the wall of the exterior element, at the level of the positionof the metal locking part. To facilitate the retraction of the lockingpart, it is recommended to apply slight pressure against the exteriorelement (1).

This first embodiment is described as a nonlimiting example. It ispossible to achieve the same functions by different means, for example,by replacing the locking part with a metal blade. Similarly, it isconceivable to provide deformable tongues having the same cross sectionas the bottom part of the interior element, rather than to use adeformable tubular part.

FIGS. 3 and 4 represent an embodiment in the locked position andunlocked position, respectively.

The device according to this embodiment comprises an exterior body (30)with tubular shape and an interior body (31) with tubular shape.

The exterior body (30) has a cylindrical cavity (32) inside of which theinterior body (31) is placed. The internal wall (33) has a slit (34). Aband (35) made of a flexible and resistant material, for example, a thinsheet of steel or a nylon band, is attached, on the one hand, to theinterior body (3 1) and, on the other hand, to the exterior body (30),and it passes through the wall (33) at the level of the slit (34). Thisband forms a loop which firmly holds the neck of the bottle below theswelling. Notched crowns (36,37), provided on the bottom edge of theinterior body and in the bottom of the cavity, respectively, prevent therelative rotation when the two bodies are inserted in each other.

A lock (47), for example, of the type known for protecting cassettes andis integrally connected to the exterior body (30). It comprises amovable spring catch (38) which prevents, in the locked position, therelative displacement of the two bodies along the longitudinal axis.

When the lock is released, as shown in FIG. 4, a spring (40) tends toseparate the two bodies (30,31). The serrated crowns (36,37) are thendecoupled and it becomes possible to turn the interior body with respectto the exterior body. In this way, one expands the band (35), and theloop which forms enlarges until it allows passage of the swelling (5).

To place the device, the exterior body is turned with respect to theinterior body so as to enlarge the loop formed by the band. The deviceis then placed over the neck of the bottle and the interior body, whichhas a knurled base (48), is turned until the band is locked. One thenapplies pressure to the interior body to engage the grooves, and onecloses the spring catch.

The unlocking is carried out using a standard tool used for antitheftdevices for cassettes, for example. The spring catch is released, andthe interior body is ejected due to the action of the spring. One canthen release the band by rotation of the interior body and pull thedevice off the neck of the bottle.

FIG. 5 shows a third embodiment. The interior body (40) is conical, withlateral walls converging to the top. The exterior body has a conicalcavity having a complementary shape. In the wall, a longitudinallyoriented cavity (42) is provided, having the width of a blade (43) whichcan be attracted by a magnet. The end of this blade works cooperativelywith the teeth (44) or the annular grooves provided on the surface ofthe interior body. At rest, the blade engages in the teeth to preventthe relative displacement of the two bodies (40,41) along thelongitudinal axis. When the blade (43) is attracted by a magnet placedin proximity of the wall, the spring (45) tends to separate the bodiesaxially, and the lips (46) provided on the internal surface of the body(42) can separate to allow passage at the level of the swelling (5). Anabutment, not shown, limits the relative movement of the two bodies andit makes possible to apply tension to the exterior body to force thepassage at the level of the swelling.

The right part of the figure has a locking variant, which uses a metalmass head (47), accommodated in a cavity (49), provided in the wall ofthe exterior body. An elastic blade (48), at rest, laterally pushes thehead back toward the interior so that its end comes to be located in anannular groove (50) provided on the external surface of the interiorbody. In this embodiment, the two bodies spin loosely in the lockedposition, which makes it difficult to force the theft preventing device.

FIGS. 6 and 7 refer to a preferred embodiment.

The theft preventing device comprises three principal parts: a clamp(60), a clamp support (61) and an external housing (59). These parts canbe made of a molded plastic.

The clamp, of which one is shown in a perspective view in slightlyenlarged scale in FIG. 7, has the general shape of a bell. The clamp(60) has a plurality of lateral fingers (62-66), each having a radialprotuberance (72-76), directed toward the interior of the part. Theselateral fingers (62-66) are separated by free intervals and they arecombined by a disk-shaped bottom (77). This disk-shaped bottom (77) hasa housing (78) which is cylindrical in shape and in which the end of aspring (79) comes to be located. The fingers (62-66) have a certainelasticity which make it possible to slightly separate the ends oppositethe disk-shaped bottom (77), in a radial direction, either to tightenthe protuberances (72-77) or to separate them.

This clamp (60) also has, on the top part, an annular groove (80) whichensures the connection with the clamp support (61).

The clamp support (61) is made of a molded plastic material having anessentially cylindrical shape and having, on its top part, inside thecylindrical cavity, an annular protuberance (81) which by applied forceengages with the groove (80). The clamp support (61) also has a lateralextension (82) whose end has a slit (83) for the introduction of anelastic metal blade (84). This blade (84) occupies, at rest (unbrokenlines), a position parallel to the median axis (85). Due to the actionof a magnet applied against the external surface of the device, thisblade is deformed as shown by the broken lines, its free end separatingfrom the center of the device.

The external housing (63) is made up of two complementary parts (87 and88) to reduce the manufacturing costs. These complementary parts (87 and88) are assembled by HF welding or bonding, after the clamp and itsclamp support have been accommodated inside.

The housing has the general shape of a cylinder with conical end (90).This lower conical end (90) has an opening (91) whose section allows theplacement on the neck of a bottle, but it is less than the section ofthe swelling of the neck plus the thickness of the opposite fingers(62,66) of the clamp (60).

This device also includes a spring (79) which rests, on the one hand,against the external surface of the disk-shaped bottom (77) of the clampsupport (61) and, on the other hand, on the internal side of the housing(59). It is possible for the housing (59) to have an internal recess(95) into which an HF label (93) is placed. This recess is closed by awasher (93) whose internal surface has a recess (94) to receive the endof the spring (79).

The housing also has an internal shoulder (101) which is placed oppositethe free end of the blade (84). This shoulder (101) ends in a projectinglip (102) which makes it possible to radially hold the free end of theblade (84) in the working position. The height of this lip (102) issmall so as to allow the disengagement of the blade (84) by axialdisplacement of the housing with respect to the clamp support.

The operation of the device is as follows.

At rest, the spring (79) tends to push back the clamp (60) toward theopening (91) of the housing (59). The fingers (62-66) of the clamp areradially pushed toward the interior by the lower conical surface (100)of the housing. The protuberances (72-76) thus narrow the section of thedevice.

When the device rests against the neck of the bottle, the top edgepushes the clamp (60) back to the interior of the housing, which has theeffect of allowing a radial separation of the protuberances (72-76)provided at the end of the fingers (62-66). The annular swelling of theneck of the bottle is then placed inside the clamp. It is then no longerpossible to withdraw the device. If tension is applied to the housing,the only part accessible from the outside, the internal conical edge(100) of the bottom part of the housing comes to rest against thefingers (62-66) which tend to tighten the lower extremity of the clampsand further prevent the movement over the annular swelling. If pressureis applied to the external housing, it is sufficient to pull the deviceover the bottle.

To withdraw the device, one must apply pressure to the housing and bringa magnet close to the external surface of the housing. This has theeffect of attracting the blade (84), against the internal wall of thehousing. Since the housing is in a low position with respect to theclamps and the clamp support, the free end (103) of the blade passesabove the lip (102). When one releases the pressure against the housing,the blade remains locked by the lip (102) in the working position, evenif the magnet is withdrawn. If tension is then applied to the housing,the axial displacement of the clamps with respect to the housing isprevented by the blade (84), and the fingers remain in the openposition. It is then possible to cause the swelling of the neck of thebottle to come out of the clamp.

The invention is described in the preceding description as a nonlimitingexample. Naturally, a person skilled in the art can imagine variousvariants which reproduce the basic characteristics of the invention.

What is claimed is:
 1. A theft preventing device for articles having anend which has a swelling and a central axis such as a bottle or a flask,said theft preventing device comprising:an interior element having atleast one protuberance directed toward the central axis, an externaltubular element, said external tubular element being movable withrespect to said interior element along the central axis between aposition in which said interior element and said external tubularelement work in cooperation to push back said protuberance in thedirection of the central axis, and having an unlocked position in whichsaid external tubular element releases said interior element to allow aradial separation of said protuberance; and a locking means having aradially movable metal blade to prevent the opening of the articlewithout using a specific tool, wherein the tool unlocks said lockingmeans by magnetically displacing said radially movable metal blade. 2.The theft preventing device according to claim 1, wherein said interiorelement and said external element work cooperatively with the surfaces,which are at least in part conical, ensuring the tightening of the partof the interior body located below the swelling of the neck when theyare axially displaced in the locked position, and allowing the enlargingof said part when displaced in the opposite direction.
 3. The theftpreventing device according to claim 1, wherein said interior elementcomprises a tubular body having a bottom end and a part which is atleast radially deformable, wherein said protuberance is at said bottomend.
 4. The theft preventing device according to claim 3, wherein saidinterior element has an essentially tubular part, which is radiallydeformable and extended by longitudinal hooks having at their bottom enda protuberance directed toward the central axis.
 5. The theft preventingdevice according to claim 3, wherein said interior element and saidexternal element are locked when inserted into each other by a lockingspring catch.
 6. The theft preventing device according to claim 3,wherein said theft preventing device comprises an internal tubularelement and an external tubular element, which can be moved with respectto each other, in rotation, and of a resisting band, of which one end isintegrally connected to said external element and the other end isintegrally connected to said interior element, said band forming a loophaving a section which is greater than the annular swelling at rest, andwhich can be reduced by a relative rotation of said external element andsaid interior element.
 7. The theft preventing device according to claim6, wherein said external element and said interior element presentcomplementary teeth which can prevent the rotation when said elementsare in a position close to each other.
 8. The theft preventing deviceaccording to claim 6, wherein said exterior element and said interiorelement are axially movable between a position which allows relativerotation and a position which prevents relative rotation.
 9. The theftpreventing device according to claim 8, wherein said external elementand said interior element are unlocked by means of a spring catch.